I always tell people that if they're confused as to how a novel synopsis should look, simply go to Wikipedia.  Search any movie made in the last five years and the first thing on the page is the long "Plot" section, which is essentially a front-to-back synopsis.  A lot of them are too long; a lot of them are poorly written; but some are good—and you will start to get a sense of how they work.

Or—you could just let me do that for you. The first great synopses I showed readers were Starman (see that one here) and Peggy Sue Got Married (see that one here). This time it's Proof of Life, a good example of a thriller/action story.  Look at what this synopsis does right. I like how the story starts quickly. Alice is a big character and she is unhappy with her situation. Her husband is kidnapped and the story is in motion. The climax (a battle) is told quickly, and there is no blow-by-blow of the gunshots.

ALICE BOWMAN moves to the (fictional) South American country of Tecala because her husband, PETER, has been hired to build a dam. Though their marriage is strained with yet another move, Alice agrees to again hit the ground running. Mere weeks later, Peter is in the city when a convoy of automobiles - including his - is ambushed by guerilla rebels. Believing that Peter works for an oil company, soldiers abduct him and lead him into the country’s jungles to hold him for ransom.

TERRY THORNE, an ex-Australian Special Air Service Regiment soldier, arrives in Tecala to assist in the situation. Thorne, fresh from a successful hostage rescue near Russia, is an expert in kidnapping-and-ransom cases. He is hired by Peter’s company to bring about Peter’s safe return. Unfortunately, it turns out that Peter’s company actually has no insurance coverage for kidnapping, so they cannot afford Thorne’s services nor pay a ransom. Despite Alice’s pleas to stay, Thorne leaves the country. Alice gets teamed up with a local hostage negotiator, who immediately suggests a questionable money payment. Not knowing what to do, Alice agrees, but the transaction is stopped by Thorne, who, following his conscience, has returned to help. He is aided by DINO, another ex-military man.

Over the next several months, Thorne uses a radio to talk with a guerilla contact, and the two argue over terms for Peter’s release—including a ransom payment that Alice can afford. With much downtime between conversations, Thorne and Alice bond, and an attraction between the two grows. Thorne's cold exterior begins to melt, and Dino warns him that the budding relationship can have no happy ending.

Meanwhile, Peter is led through the jungle by a group of younger rebels before arriving at the main camp. There, he meets another hostage: KESSLER, a missionary and former member of the French Foreign Legion who’s lived in the camp for nineteen months. The two immediately conspire to escape.

After much negotiation, the guerillas agrees to release Peter for a sum of $650,000. But before the deal goes through, Peter and Kessler make a run for it into the jungle. Kessler falls into a river and evades the rebels, but Peter steps on a trap and is recaptured. Kessler is found and hospitalized. In the hospital, he meets Alice and, having heard a gunshot, confesses to Alice that her husband is dead. Thorne refuses to believe this, but is unable to contact his negotiator. Acting on a tip, Thorne visits a high-ranking Tecala government official, who turns out to be the contact he was communicating with this whole time. The contact confirms that Peter is indeed alive, but has seen secret rebel maps and will likely soon be killed. 

Thorne, Dino, and several associates decide to risk a rescue. Before leaving, Thorne shares tender words and a kiss with Alice. In the jungle, Thorne and his men travel by helicopter and attack the ELT base. They free not only Peter, but other hostages held there as well. Peter returns to Alice, emaciated but alive. Thorne and Alice have a final moment together before Alice thanks him and leaves to be with her husband. Thorne watches her leave, and talks with Dino about what might lie in store for them next.

Want more on this topic?

• How to Write a Novel Synopsis.
• Buy the book Give 'Em What They Want.
• Read the Starman synopsis - a great example of a summary.
• Confused about formatting? Check out Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript.
• Read about What Agents Hate: Chapter 1 Pet Peeves.
• Want the most complete database of agents and what genres they're looking for? Buy the 2011 Guide to Literary Agents today!